A Tipulid from Duck End NR Beds

As with my previous posting, this female Tipulid was also swept by me from low vegetation beside a pond at Duck End Nature Reserve , Bedfordshire (TL051374), back on 3 May 2016. Unfortunately this one also escaped as I was photographing it so again I do not have the specimen. (It was not a good day in that respect!). I wonder if there is enough in these images for anyone to be able to identify it.

Re: A Tipulid from Duck End NR Beds

Hi Alan. This could be Tipula vernalis as it has a dark stigma and veins on the wing. The Abdomen is orange with dark dorsal stripe. The femora are black tipped and orange and the antennae show a dark base, yellow second segment and dark for the rest. The thoracic stripes look ok too. It is not clear if the wings were streaky though.

Re: A Tipulid from Duck End NR Beds

Thanks John. That certainly looks plausible to me. I am hopefully attaching another image which does show rather better that the eyes are indeed green (so this and the early season presumably supporting Lunatipula) and leg colours certainly match as you say. Hopefully this image also shows the wings rather sharper as well so may further clarify.